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Spring Nationals race recap

Back in 2006, when the newly built roof over Duke City BMX still had wet paint on it, this City-built BMX super-facility hosted it's first major BMX event - and we've been coming here every year, ever since. And for the past few years, it has been held on a doubled-up weekend, usually up against Nashville. For 2017, the Spring Nationals got its own weekend - and the riders came out in droves to Albuquerque.

Even during practice, you could tell this race had its own unique vibe to it. There were a ton of fast riders - but something was missing. The "major" title-contending teams were. No Throdwn (I think this is the first race they've been absent from so far this year). Only a few Haro-Promax riders. Only a couple of Answer-Rennen and Supercross racers. But don't get us wrong - there were plenty of top-notch riders and teams present. And that meant we'd get to see some "new" faces on the podium this weekend.

Enough about who wasn't there - how about who is? The RideCo bike shop squad form nearby Colorado was present and acconted for, and they have their sights set on that No.1 Bike Shop title. Team BC (Boulder City) was also out in force, and presence known on Friday night's pre-race - especially in the wild and wooly 17-18x main, where Evan DePalma scooted by for the victory.

17-18 EXPERT

1 EVAN DEPALMA, TEAM BC - BOULDER CITY, NV

2 ZACHARY PARRISH, LITTLETON, CO

3 COLE ROSE, AZ BICYCLE WERX/FALL RISK RACING, GLENDALE, AZ

4 HECTOR BANUELOS, HOSTILE, EL PASO, TX

5 LEVI SCHONES, 327 DESIGNS, COSTA MESA, CA

6 CHASE MAZA, MESA, AZ

Factory-wise, the entire Doublecross crew, SE Racing, Alpha, Supercross and a small conteingent of Free Agent, Velocity and J&R Bikes racers were out to battle for the factory points. Of all the factory teams present, we'd have to proclaim that the FallRisk Racing crew out of Arizona were the true standouts. It's hard to miss them in the red and yellow, with flying skulls a blazin' on their chests. Led by the holey-eared one, Chris Sutton, who would battle it out all weekend with SE's Jason "The Cat" Morris.

28-35 EXPERT

1 JASON MORRIS, SE RACING, MORENO VALLEY, CA

2 LLOYD SHERROD, BAY AREA BMXERS, HESPERIA, CA

3 CHRIS SUTTON, FACTORY FALL RISK RACING, GLENDALE, AZ

4 MATT ALEXANDER, FACTORY FALL RISK RACING, PEORIA, AZ

5 NICHOLAS HURST, ACE BIKE SHOP, RIVERTON, IL

6 TYLER TAFOYA, LAS CRUCES, NM

7 JASEN GARCIA, 505 RACING, RIO RANCHO, NM

8 MYCHAL FLAHERTY, TANNER BMX, AUSTIN, TX

From the first rounds of practice on Friday, we could tell this would be the race of the underdogs.

BONUS BUCKS

Just as they did last year, Duke City BMX threw in some extra dollars for the pro purse, to help support the scene and to root for their local superstars, Tomas Fernandez (SE) and Kalvin Davis (Supercross). They bumped up Friday's purse an extra $500, and put down an extra $1,000 each day for the nationals.

On Friday, Davis didn't let his local fans down, as he was able to avoid the carnage of Kenny-G to fly in for the win - which also happened to be the first Pro win of his career.

FRIDAY - PRO OPEN

1 KALVIN DAVIS, SUPERCROSSBMX.COM, ALBUQUERQUE, NM

2 TYLER BROWN, 316 RACING/DK BICYCLES, CHULA VISTA, CA

3 LAYNE GAINER, GORDY'S BICYCLES, MESA, AZ

4 KENNETH GUSTAFSON, DOUBLECROSS, PARKER, CO

5 PAUL WASSENAAR, BFR SWAG BUCKS, BELLFLOWER, CA

6 TYLER KLUMPER, JR BICYCLES.COM/CHASE/BOX, TARPON SPRINGS, FL

7 KEITH GRINE, ALPHA, SIMI VALLEY, CA

8 BRANDON ELMORE, PURE/AVIAN FACTORY TEAM USA, ARLINGTON, TX

After his inopportune crash in the lead on Friday night, Doublecross' kenny-G was not about to make the same mistake twice. He won - with a good 3 or 4 bike length lead at the line, followed in by ABQ local - at 31 years old, Tomas Fernandez and another old-timer, Tyler Brown. You can expect to see those two guys hangin' in the Vet Pro class here pretty soon.